It is very difficult. It is a difficult decision and we don’t know what to do. I will stop writing now because I need to help. I can’t hide in this book after all. My hand is shaking too much to write and real things are going on. We are in a desperate situation and I hope the search party comes back soon. Surely they can’t be much longer? Unless something has happened to them as well. I do not want to think about that. I will stop writing because it is making me think too much.

I have to help. I have to do something.

Chapter 60

60

Ollie and the other kids were still waiting down below, clustered round the foot of the metal staircase, hyped up, excited and nervous. There was some grumbling going on, from those fighters who wanted to be up where the action was and didn’t like being left out. Mostly, though, they were in huddles, talking in brief, urgent, hushed bursts, trying to make sense of what they’d seen. They all had their theories. Only Ollie was keeping his thoughts to himself, staying quiet, his eyes moving ceaselessly over the rows and rows of shelves.

Ebenezer approached him. He was carrying Seamus’s spear.

‘You want this?’ he asked. ‘Looks like a good one.’

‘Don’t you want it?’ Ollie looked at the spear. The head was covered in dark blood that was still sticky.

Ebenezer shrugged. ‘Don’t like to use a spear.’

‘Me either,’ said Ollie, ‘but I know who does.’ He took the spear off Ebenezer and walked to where Achilleus was sitting on the bottom of the steps. He looked tired and there was a thin film of sweat on his skin. The wounds he’d got at the palace were still healing and now that he’d stopped moving the pain was obviously getting to him.

‘You want this for your collection?’ Ollie said.

‘Dunno,’ said Achilleus. ‘I already got three spears. I’m not sure Paddywhack can carry any more.’

‘I’m all right, Akkie,’ said Paddy eagerly. He was sitting next to Achilleus, the golf-bag leaning against the steps. ‘I can carry another one.’

‘Yeah, but do we need another one, though?’